"Our inventions are wont
to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things.
They are but improved means to an unimproved end.
We are in great haste to construct a magnetic telegraph from Maine
to Texas;
but Maine and Texas, it may be, have nothing important to communicate."Thoreau, Walden

J.J. Owen, a New Yawka, settles in San Jose. He became the editor
and publisher of the San Jose Daily Mercury.

1861

On Dec 24, gas streets lamps are turned on for the first time
in downtown San Jose. It was a dark and stormy winter that year,
the light was appreciated.

1879

J.J Owen visits the first electrical lighting station in the
world in San Francisco, a degenerate metropolis to the north
of San Jose.
("It's gonna burn" - my lead-bottomed Christian friends
opine, when speaking of the Sodom to the north.)

1881

J.J., in a May 13 editorial, touts the plan of Nevada City (California)
to use electrical lights. A new-fangled concept. He describes
a tower design of his own invention.

1881

Bids for labor presented to John Gash, the San Francisco architect
selected to supervise the project.

1881

George Roe's San Jose Brush Co. selected to supply power to the
tower. (named after Charles Brush, inventer of the dynamo-generator
and arc lamps that would be used).

1881

Foundation of the tower laid on August 11. A great work is at
hand.

1881

Thomas Gillespie's planing mill on El Dorado St. (present day
Post St.) chosen as site for George Roe's dynamo. The steam engine
that ran the planer by day, would power the dynamo and tower
by night.

1881

Ceremonial first lighting. December 13, 6:30 Tuesday evening.
One thousand San Joseans in attendance.

1881

Spies from Paris, France visit San Jose and steal the plans of
San Jose's tower. The plans find their way to Alexandre Gustave
Eiffel.

1882

George Roe's San Jose Brush Co. re-organized as the San Jose
Brush Electric Light Co.

Electric Improvement Co. (Harry Edwards) granted rights to light
the tower. The tower rewired and relit - much to the chagrin
of San Jose Light & Power Co.

1891

Manager Thomas Gillespie of the San Jose Light & Power Co.
cuts wires on the tower and removes the lamps to thwart the efforts
of the Electric Improvement Co.

1891

Harry Edwards and James W. Rea of the Electric Improvement Co.
brave stormy weather and valiantly reconfigure the tower to thwart
the efforts of the San Jose Light & Power Co.

1902

United Gas and Electric Company is formed, buys the Electric
Improvement Co. and the San Jose Light & Power Co.
Peace is restored to San Jose's utilities.

1915

San Jose Electric Light Tower is badly damaged in a February
storm.

1915

On December 3 at 11:55 a.m. the San Jose Electric Light Tower
collapses in gale force winds. No one is injured.

1960

The Tower Saloon, a final reminder of the Light Tower at the
intersection of Santa Clara and Market Street is shamefully demolished.

1977

A half-size replica of the light tower is constructed by the
San Jose Historical Museum in Kelly Park. Masterminded by the
San Jose Real Estate Board with Irene Tolbert heading the project.
Why not full-height???

1990

San Jose sues Paris for copyright infringement, accusing Paris
of stealing the idea for the Eiffel Tower from San Jose's Light
Tower.